This is an AMT ‘61 Chevy Impala 409 that my good friend Joe won in a raffle at Valleycon in LA a few months ago and generously gifted it to me (he avoids modeling “shiny objects”). I always had a thing for the ‘61 bubble-top, especially lightly modified two-toned street racers. I also thought this might be a good test bed for trying out masking and spraying the SS body trim pieces using Molotow liquid chrome. I’ve struggled trying to master smoothly applied and trimmed metal foil to 1/24-1/25 cat models.
The exterior was rattle-can sprayed Tamiya lacquer, pearl green TS-60 and pure white TS-26 over Tamiya fine grey primer. After a few days curing, I masked all the trim pieces and airbrushed the Molotow at 15 PSI and allowed a good week cure. I did the same mask/ Molotow spray on some test spoons and found that the chrome easily tarnished with gentle handling even after a week so a clear coat was going to be needed.
After web researching, I ordered a bottle of Alclad Aqua Gloss Clear which is a water-based acrylic similar to Future but with better consistency/ gloss control. I learned the following: 1) DON’T SHAKE IT!!!! Horrendous bubbles will result on the spayed surface, 2) spray fairly close (3-4”?) otherwise the mist hardens and results in pre-cured particles, 3) apply thin coats with a minute or two between sprays and on the final wet coat, don’t go as heavy as you would with lacquer or enamel or it will pool and drip, 4) Don’t try polishing or fine sanding the hardened surface or it will chip/ delaminates, 5) the Alclad Aqua definitely dulls the Molotow but I think it still looks ok, not sure after the clear coat if it’s really any better than just spraying a fine silver/ metallic such as Tamiya lacquer TS-30 silver leaf or Mr Color (Gunze) Super Metallic SM01 Super Fine Silver. I welcome any feedback/ suggestions.
The interior/ chassis/ engine was all airbrushed Tamiya acrylics and the Torq Thrust Mags were hand brushed using Tamiya metallic grey XF-56. Everything fit together other than the steering shaft and warped front chassis beams to the body.
I’m happy with the look of this light pear green and white over the grey interior on this ‘61 bubble-top - a great example of one Bill Mitchell’s beautiful sixties GM stylings. Enjoy,
John